'”Off we go into the wild blue yonder,
Climbing high into the sun;”
Well, that is, for one Simpson Academy graduates Devin Hamilton. He is now Lieutenant Hamilton as he was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on May 22.
Devin graduated from Simpson in 2013 and it was then time to decide what he wanted to do with his life. With the idea of defraying expenses, he enlisted in the Mississippi Air National Guard and off he went right after graduation.
When asked who influenced his military decision the most, he said there were a lot of people, but that football is what prepared him for the military. He said Coach Hankins, Coach Funchess and Coach Napier ran a tight program, and it made it easier for him when he went to basic training. Upon completing his basic training he was ready to enter college at Mississippi State University.
He earned his degree in finance and this played well with his role in the military and continues to do so even in his new status as an officer.
Devin’s initial hitch was for six years, and one of the officers ask him what were his goals. He replied that if he was going to stay in he wanted to become an officer. His mentor said they could make that happen and thus the 18 month process started.
He was accepted into the Officer Training Course in Montgomery Ala., at Maxwell Air Force Base. Two months later he graduated from the program.
When asked what his goals for his military service were, Devin said he was fortunate to be in service and he felt it is his duty to serve his country. He said he has had the opportunity to travel to places like Hawaii and Alaska. His job in the military had him handling issues like pay and programs. He said future plans include learning more about the operation side of the Air Guard as well as other roles that support air operations. He said this would better prepare him for his future assignments.
After returning home he worked for nine months at PriorityOne. Devin is now married to Allison Hamilton, who is from the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Devin works for Ballew Wealth Management, where he is a financial advisor. He specializes in retirement programs as well as 401-K investment programs.
